academics
class schedules and delivery
the success of and support for students attending rcsj is of utmost importance to the faculty and staff, therefore instruction will occur as outlined below:
winter session courses are continuing with completely online delivery. internships that are critical for student training in their field, as well as clinical placements, will resume upon the college reopening and student acceptance into such external placements.
the spring semester will begin as scheduled on tuesday, january 19 and will conclude on wednesday, may 5. classes for the spring semester will be delivered as
online, live online, and hybrid.
hybrid sessions will be offered for specific classes and programs that require a laboratory, clinical/internships, and hands-on work for accreditation, licensing, and for students to achieve the knowledge necessary for success in their fields of study.
in addition to online and hybrid delivery formats, the college is introducing a
live online format for all traditional classes that incorporates expanded online learning resources and capabilities using zoom to conduct real-time class meetings. this will allow for nearly all traditional face-to-face classes to be taken synchronously from a remote location using zoom as the interactive learning platform. this will allow the faculty and student interactions that students and faculty crave, but will allow for physical distancing for the safety of the faculty and student body. full details regarding the operating platforms for each course will be communicated to each student.
rcsj is making a substantial investment in instructional technology to enable high-quality delivery of all class content to support the live online modality that will permit students to interact with their instructors and classmates digitally while maintaining safe physical distancing.
the classes that will be offered in the hybrid format will offer lectures as either online or live online while the laboratory, clinical/internship and hands-on training required for these courses and programs will meet either on campus or in their training or clinical settings. all classroom meetings will be subject to adjusted classroom capacity and safety protocols and will be scheduled on a rotating basis, as necessary, to allow for physical and social distancing following cdc protocols. cleaning protocols, as described later, will be performed between each class meeting, and all meetings will follow cdc protocols for personal protective equipment and meeting sizes.
the credit-bearing programs and courses that will require hybrid class delivery within a class, or at clinical or internship placements for the spring semester are as follows:
| automotive technology | aut 101 (g) aut 107 (g) aut 110 (g) aut 111 (g) aut 135 (g) cep 200 (g) cep 203 (g) cep 208 (g) | all require hands-on work crucial for skills for program and employment |
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| criminal justice | phy 241 (g) phy 242 (g) | laboratories for crime scene investigation cannot be online |
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| certified clinical medical assistant | cma 120 (g) cma 128 (g) cma 131 (g) | clinical clinical clinical |
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| diagnostic medical sonography | dms 203 (g) | clinical |
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| engineering | eg 103 (c) ch 201 (c) bi 221 (c) enr 102 (g) enr 103 (g) enr 201 (g) cep 211 (g) | laboratory cannot be online laboratory cannot be online laboratory cannot be online laboratory cannot be online laboratory cannot be online laboratory cannot be online hands-on internship work at johnson and matthey, pbf energy, west deptford power plant, ugsi, and geresheimer glass |
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| engineering technologies | it 111 (c) | laboratory cannot be online |
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| health science | alh 104 (g) hpe 105 (g) hpe 233 (g) | laboratory competencies must be done in person |
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| licensed practical nursing | pn 101 (c) | clinical |
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| nuclear medicine technology | nmt 205 (g) nmt 215 (g) | clinical laboratory competencies must be done in person |
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| nursing | nu 210 (c) nur 130 (g) nur 113 (c) nur 131 (g) nur 215 (g) | laboratory competencies must be done in person and clinical placements laboratory competencies must be done in person clinical clinical clinical |
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| physical therapist assistant | pta 209 (g) | clinical |
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| process technology | cep 211 | hands-on internship work at johnson and matthey, pbf energy, west deptford power plant, ugsi, and geresheimer glass |
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| radio, television and film | com 216 (g) co 216 (c) com 310 (g) co 316 (c) | laboratory video editing in all courses using specialized equipment not available off-campus |
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| radiography | rt 103 (c) rt 202 (c) | clinical clinical |
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| surveying engineering technology | cet 108 (g) | outdoor laboratory using survey equipment cannot be online |
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rcsj also offers several non-credit programs that will require a component of face-to-face meetings, as shown below. once again, cleaning protocols as described later will be used between each class meeting and all meetings will follow cdc protocols for personal protective equipment (ppe) and meeting sizes.
| allied health programs | emt (g) patient care technician (g) c.n.a (g and c) medical assistant (c)
| all require hands-on laboratories and clinicals as required by the new jersey department of health |
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| external college affiliated training academies | gloucester county police academy (g) | requires hands-on training and follows guidelines provided by the c.d.c. and approved by the police commission under the purview of the new jersey attorney general |
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| | gloucester county fire academy (g) | requires hands-on training and follows guidelines provided by the c.d.c. and approved by the new jersey division of fire safety |
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| real estate | re 101 (c) | hands-on analysis required by real estate commission |
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for classes that will be offered online, remote attendance may take the form of watching a recorded lecture, watching and participating in a live video discussion, or participating in a discussion or other online activity in the college's learning management system which is blackboard learn 9.1.
online classes do not have scheduled in-person sessions; all course content is accessed asynchronously through blackboard.
hybrid classes have periodic scheduled in-person sessions, following cdc social distancing and reduced classroom capacities to allow for social distancing, but the majority of course content is accessed through blackboard learn.
live online classes will have regularly scheduled synchronous zoom meeting sessions with selected course content accessed through blackboard learn. the live online format will enable students and faculty to engage, connect, and get the most from their digital, real-time interactions even though they are not together physically.
finally, all classes with an in-person component, such as a laboratory or clinical components, will be prepared to move to full online instruction temporarily or for the remainder of the semester, in the event it is deemed necessary. while not optimal, these programs and courses are prepared to deliver information remotely using blackboard learn and zoom.
screening, testing, and tracing
self-reported symptom assessment
once the campus is open for returning students and employees, everyone will be required to submit their temperature daily and attest to being symptom-free before being able to access college buildings. temperature checks will be conducted daily.
attendance
individuals responsible for groups of employees or students at events, such as classroom lectures, meetings and other gatherings, must document attendance. this may be done using digital tracking through banner, colleague or by spreadsheet to allow contact tracing if needed.
sick notification
employees must notify human resources of illness or suspected covid-19 infection and report symptoms to human resources. fever is the most common symptom of covid-19, but it could also indicate another illness, especially as seasonal diseases such as the flu emerge. it will be critical for symptomatic individuals to avoid all face-to-face interactions and public gatherings regardless of social distancing practices.
return to work following illness
employees who are clinically diagnosed with covid-19 or receive a positive test result must remain isolated based on the recommendations from their health care provider, public health official or until three full symptom-free days have passed, whichever is longer.
employees who report symptoms without known exposure to covid-19 must be symptom-free for 24 hours before returning to work.
all employees must communicate they have cleared status with human resources and receive guidance prior to returning.
contact investigation
through a collaboration with the gloucester county and cumberland county health departments, rcsj will train contact tracers to conduct assessments throughout our campuses to help health care professionals make public health recommendations for students and employees.
it is critical for students and employees to participate in any investigation, so isolation of ill individuals and quarantine of close contacts can occur quickly.
to report a positive covid-19 case, contact human resources.
isolation for employees and students
employees and students will be required to isolate in their homes and follow return to work and school protocols.
cleaning, maintenance, and ppe
enhanced cleaning and building maintenance
- offices, restrooms, hallways, classrooms, etc., will be equipped with sanitizer essentials per cdc guidelines;
- there will be cleaning schedules for high-touch areas;
- staggered work schedules will assist custodial services to schedule more focused cleaning in areas based on daily usage;
- hvac filters replacement will occur on a more frequent schedule;
- increase outside air will be pumped into the buildings, and
- structural barriers will be assessed and modified as necessary or required.
equipment and supplies
the rcsj purchasing department, along with the custodial department, will monitor the inventory of personal protective equipment (ppe), restroom supplies, cleaning and sanitizing supplies, and make appropriate purchases as necessary. in addition to
rcsj's purchasing sourcing, the gloucester and cumberland counties' emergency management offices have notified both college campuses that they have adequate ppes and sanitizing supplies for each campus.
learning spaces (labs and classrooms)
general classrooms
occupied classrooms will be cleaned once per day, and in the overnight hours during non-occupied times. trash cans will be emptied, all tabletop and horizontal surfaces will be disinfected and wiped down. whiteboards will be erased and cleaned. door handles and other high-touch items will be disinfected.
lab spaces
- lab spaces may be cleaned after each class, and once per day in the overnight hours during non-occupied times.
- trash cans will be emptied, all lab tabletop and horizontal surfaces will be disinfected and wiped down.
- whiteboards will be erased and cleaned unless the information is to remain.
you
might have an online lab
view our elearning page dedicated to online labs. we will keep this page updated with tutorials, lists of online lab classes, and other helpful information.
restrooms
restrooms are maintained approximately twice per day with additional cleaning in high-traffic restrooms and for any incident requiring attention.
- all sinks and toilets are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected per cleaning.
- all paper products are replenished, and waste is removed from receptacles. all surfaces are wiped with a disinfectant solution.
- door handles, stall locking mechanisms, and mirrors are wiped down and disinfected.
- additional refreshing of restrooms occurs throughout the day. this includes wiping down sinks, refilling soap dispensers and paper towels, and emptying the trash.
common areas
common areas will be cleaned once per day during normal hours by custodial staff. trash cans will be emptied, and all tabletop and horizontal surfaces will be disinfected and wiped down. door handles (where applicable) and other high-touch items will be disinfected.
meeting spaces
meeting rooms will be cleaned once per day and after each scheduled use. trash cans will be emptied, and all tabletop and horizontal surfaces will be disinfected and wiped down. whiteboards will be erased and cleaned unless the information is to remain. door handles and other high-touch items will be disinfected.
college physical education center (pec)
in addition to the protocols for custodial staff outlined in the cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting section above, the pec custodial staff will work to ensure the cleanliness of all offices, common areas, fitness spaces, locker rooms and restrooms.
fitness center
the fitness center plans to offer limited hours of availability in the spring semester, with a focus on small-group, socially-distanced athlete training. when reopening is authorized and in accordance with guidelines for fitness clubs, all fitness equipment will be cleaned once per day by staff, and all users are required to clean their equipment pre- and post-workout. fitness center updates will be provided as changes occur.
housing
rowan choice students (rcsj students) will have the option to live on rowan university's campus in the spring semester. rcsj will continue to follow all rowan university housing policies and procedures, including those that apply during this time of heightened health concerns. in order to ensure students' safety and well-being, rowan university has implemented the following procedures for the spring semester:
- university personnel will clean and disinfect public common areas multiple times per day using appropriate guidelines and products.
- housing assignments will be made using a system which adheres to social distancing and health-related risk reduction guidelines, while attempting to meet the needs of students who have applied for housing.
- residential learning and university housing staff members will participate in specialized training sessions to enhance their ability to identify and address health-related concerns in residence halls.
- students with known or suspected exposure to covid-19 will be required to participate in university isolation protocols. this may include relocation to isolation housing, returning home for a designated period of time, alternative methods for food access and/or delivery, participation in tracing protocol, limited access to university facilities, and/or transitioning to alternative course delivery methods. the university has set aside triad hall, a 218-bed residence hall, for the relocation of students who need to be isolated and cannot return to their primary residence.
- university personnel will continue to offer educational and social development opportunities using appropriate social distancing techniques and/or technology-based methods.
- common areas of buildings will be open or closed based upon current guidelines. all expectations will be posted throughout buildings and online.
additional questions about housing can be directed to
housingquestions@rowan.edu and questions about the rowan choice program can be directed to dr. michael plagianakos
mplagian@rcsj.edu
computer labs and libraries
as of september 1, 2020, a selection of computer labs reopened on both campuses with social distancing and enhanced cleaning procedures in place. due to reduced capacity in on-campus labs, students are encouraged to utilize remote computer labs available through the rcsj.edu website which grant remote access to high-powered computers and specialized software to complete assignments in computer graphic arts, radio television and film, and computer science courses.
library
campus libraries reopened on september 1, 2020, with social distancing and enhanced cleaning procedures in place. the libraries on each campus will continue to follow the new jersey governor's directives for offering in-person services to faculty, staff and students, as well as curbside pickup options.
- in an effort to enforce the six (6) feet social distancing guidelines, desktops and monitors will remain in place and will be marked as usable or unusable to accomplish social distancing.
- custodial crews will wipe down horizontal surfaces, including keyboards, door handles, computer mice, and other high-touch areas once per day.
student services
rowan college of south jersey will continue to offer student services remotely while adding face-to-face services modified to accommodate social distancing and cdc guidelines.
student services will adhere to appropriate social distancing techniques, engaging in the regular disinfecting protocol, and wearing recommended ppe (e.g. cloth masks and washing hands) in order to provide essential resources to students in need of assistance.
academic and student support services
all academic and student support services will continue to provide high-quality virtual support options for advisement and tutoring. physical distancing and health precautions will be implemented in all academic and student support services offices. in addition, rcsj will continue to support student well-being and academic success through outreach via emails, phone calls and text messages. in-person services may also be available as needed.
disability services
students registered with the office may experience particular challenges due to remote learning environments, heightened health risks and mental health strain. support for students' well-being and academic success will continue to be available through high-quality virtual support options and through extensive outreach via emails, phone calls and virtual meetings. visit the special services webpage to connect.
Counseling & Wellness
RCSJ’s Counseling and Wellness Services is working hard to ensure the availability of remote options for psychological and mental health services. Individual appointments for students are provided online and via phone. students can visit the Counseling & Wellness webpage to connect with a mental health professional.
testing services
the testing center will continue to provide placement testing and proctoring services remotely. accommodated testing for students registered with disability services is available in online and remote course platforms. when conditions permit, testing services will resume offering an in-person option, following health and safety protocol.
military services
military services staff will be available to help students with military educational benefit processing and provide updates on benefits-related issues that may arise. students can be assured their needs will be met through virtual services and outreach via emails, phone calls and virtual meetings. students may visit the military services offices on campus to drop off documents if needed, or connect with the military services office online.
financial aid
students eligible for financial aid can be assured their needs will be met through virtual services and outreach via emails, phone calls and text messages. students are strongly encouraged to submit documents via mappingxpress located on the portal and the financial aid webpage. verification services completed through proverify are continuing without interruption. in-person services have resumed with limited capacity. students are encouraged to schedule an appointment to see an administrator on campus or through virtual platforms.
student life, clubs, organizations, and activities
student life offers a variety of events in the virtual environment and many clubs continue to meet remotely. student clubs and organizations provide essential peer-to-peer interactions and leadership development opportunities. in-person events and activities are not scheduled to resume in spring 2021. students can visit student life online for the most up to date information on student clubs and events.
athletics
given the experiential nature of intercollegiate athletics for student-athletes, coaches, officials, and fans, rcsj will follow the guidelines from njcaa, local, state, federal and health care officials and guide to safely reintroducing athletics. the guide to safely reintroducing athletics at rcsj examples include, but are not limited to:
- practices and skill-development using appropriate social distancing techniques;
- tracking the temperatures and symptoms of student-athletes and coaches;
- implementing enhanced travel precautions, and maintaining competition venues in a manner that limits health-related risks to the fullest extent possible;
- student-athletes, coaches, and other personnel associated with athletics will be evaluated and restricted from participation/work using appropriate isolation protocol for known and/or suspected exposure to covid-19; and
- transportation will follow new jersey governor's executive order 125.
transportation
students needing transportation will be transported in a college van or security vehicle. the vehicles will be following new jersey governor's executive order 125, and will be regularly cleaned and disinfected between shifts.
on-campus dining
no dining or cafeteria services will be offered at present, but as conditions change, services may become available for the spring semester.
